Fire at Sumner apartment building kills 1 in second-floor unit, fire officials say
A fire that broke out Saturday morning in a second-floor apartment in Sumner killed one man, according to East Pierce Fire & Rescue. Another person who lived there escaped.
The victim has not been publicly identified. In a statement on social media, the fire department said he was one of two occupants living in the apartment. No other injuries were reported.
Firefighters were dispatched to the fire in the 15900 block of 52nd Street East at about 9:45 a.m. Officials said arriving crews saw flames coming from a second-floor window. According to a tweet from the fire department, firefighters contained the blaze to the apartment where it started within about 15 minutes.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire marshals from Pierce County and the fire department were called to the scene. Other agencies assisted with the fire response, including Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, Valley Regional Fire Authority and Sumner Police Department.
So far the fire does not appear suspicious, Sumner communications director Carmen Palmer said. She said a full investigation will still be completed.
Other apartment units were affected by the fire, officials said, but the extent of the damage is unclear. The Red Cross responded to assist three other families. According to Pierce County property records, the building is a quadplex built in 1983.
This story was originally published January 7, 2023 at 1:55 PM.
